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South Texas races could determine control of Congress
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report recently moved Texas’ Congressional District 15 from “Lean Republican” to “Toss-up.”
Guns, F-bombs, fortune cookies. What do wild campaign ads actually say?
A single mom who shot a home intruder. A pet alpaca. Chicago voters throwing around profanities. This cycle's campaign ads are fluffy, funny and profane.
Cook Political Report moves 11 more House races toward Democrats
The election prognosticator says more races are becoming competitive in traditional GOP strongholds because of voter frustration with the economy.
Southwest Washington House race shifts toward Democrats
The Cook Political Report moved its rating of southwest Washington's 3rd Congressional District race from a toss-up to "lean Democratic."
Lawyers for Fed’s Lisa Cook call White House hearing set up by Trump ‘biased’
Her lawyer said she would not be able to attend a hearing Nov. 5 because she will be attending policy meetings in Europe
Tim Cook Explains Why He Stepped Down as Apple CEO Before iPhone Duo Launch
The Independent's David Phelan on Wednesday interviewed Apple's executive chairman Tim Cook at Apple's U.K. headquarters in the Battersea Power Station, and one of the topics they discussed was John Ternus taking over as Apple's CEO. Ternus, who was previously Apple's hardware engineering chief, succeeded Cook as Apple's CEO on September 1. Cook said the transition "started years ago". "It's been an interesting transition," said Cook.
Cook Political Report moves 18 House seats toward Democrats
The Cook Political Report, an election handicapper, shifted 18 House seats toward Democrats’ favor in key battleground districts. The changes show how unfavorable the political environment co…
Cookies, liquor and mocking Nazis fuel final stretch in fiery Texas House race
Katy Padilla Stout's Texas Democratic campaign reported over $4,300 in cookies, beer and wine, and Mexican restaurant spending per FEC records.
The Kardashian personal chef reveals celebs' top requests
Khristianne Uy, best known as Chef K, has built a career in the celebrity-sphere cooking for major names like Justin Bieber, Salma Hayek, Ryan Seacrest and — most notably —
Voters in 12 states face tight races for governor
The Cook Political Report has labeled four governor races as "lean Democrat" and three as "lean Republican."
Lawyers for Federal Reserve's Lisa Cook say White House hearing set up by Trump is 'biased'
Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook's lawyers say that a committee set up by the White House last week to investigate an accusation against her is “demonstrably biased," though they did not close the door on the possibility that she would appear before the panel.
Trump launches new effort to oust Fed Governor Lisa Cook
President Donald Trump is doubling down on efforts to oust Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, forming a “committee of inquiry” centered around alleged false statements she made “in connection with one or more mortgage instruments,” according to a statement released by the White House on Friday.
Cook moves Mississippi, South Carolina Senate races toward Democrats
Democrats are taking the trend seriously, launching a big advertising buy in Mississippi.
GOP hold on Florida and Texas governors’ races weakens, nonpartisan analyst says
President Donald Trump’s poor ratings contributed to the Cook Political Report shifting both races from “Likely Republican” to “Lean Republican.”
We Now Have Images Of The Smart Home Products That Apple And LG Are Reportedly Cooking Up
These include a lock, a thermostat and a temperature sensor.
Alabama State vs Bethune-Cookman live updates, highlights, analysis
Alabama State football plays Bethune-Cookman in a pivotal SWAC showdown. Follow live updates and highlights from Alabama State's Week 5 game.
Science Hill Independent Superintendent Matt Cook building more professional learning communities in the district
Science Hill Independent Superintendent Matt Cook stands with Science Hill students at the district’s annual Constitution Day Parade in September. Photo courtesy Matt Cook. The new superintendent of Science Hill Independent, Matt Cook, is focusing on building more
Touchdowns and fumbles mark wild night for James Cook
James Cook had an up-and-down night in Los Angeles, running for two touchdowns while also fumbling twice in a Week 5 win.
How to watch Maryville vs Cookeville high school football
You can watch Maryville football all season long with NFHS Network, including this week’s game against Cookeville.
Popular cookie chain abruptly closes all locations after years of rapid expansion
Chip City abruptly closed all of its locations after expanding from a New York cookie shop into a multistate chain backed by millions in outside investment
Cook County Public Health encourages vaccinations as respiratory illness season approaches
As temperatures drop and residents spend more time indoors, Cook County Public Health and Human Services is reminding residents to get vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19. Respiratory illnesses become more common during the colder months as people gather indoors, increasing opportunities for viruses to spread. “From a public health perspective, this is a good time to...
Local Farms and Food Businesses Receive Nearly $500,000 in Grants to Help Make Metro Chicago Food System More Equitable - Cook County Department of Public Health
Today, Cook County Department of Public Health launched Building Healthier Communities 2030, suburban Cook County’s Community Health Improvement Plan. The plan was announced together with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Department of Public Health, community organizations, healthcare providers and cross-sector partners. Building Healthier Communities 2030 serves as both a collective vision and a practical roadmap that will guide public health efforts across suburban Cook County through 2030.The plan aligns with President Preckwinkle's Policy Roadmap and reflects a shared commitment to advancing health equity through coordinated, community-informed action.
Registered Players Of Rare Cookie's Bustle Invited To Secret Party
After being freed from a patent troll earlier this year, the infamous '90s adventure game Cookie's Bustle is renewing the enigma that is itself
US Rep. Bynum seeks re-election with Democrats poised for favorable midterm
Candidates are vying for the 5th Congressional District, which the Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan elections forecaster, labels as solidly Democratic.
In rural Wisconsin, politics is still about meeting voters. Online, it’s getting weird.
Rebecca Cooke is taking her campaign directly to rural Wisconsin communities, all while an AI-fueled online fight with her Republican opponent adds a distinctly 2026 twist to the race.
Voters in 12 states face tight races for governor
The Cook Political Report has labeled four governor races as "lean Democrat" and three as "lean Republican."
Trump launches new effort to oust Fed Governor Lisa Cook
(CNN) — President Donald Trump is mounting a fresh offensive in his battle to oust Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, forming a committee of his own appointees to investigate allegations
CCDPH Launches “Spread Facts, Not Flu & COVID” Campaign Ahead of Respiratory Virus Season - Cook County Department of Public Health
Today, Cook County Department of Public Health launched Building Healthier Communities 2030, suburban Cook County’s Community Health Improvement Plan. The plan was announced together with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Department of Public Health, community organizations, healthcare providers and cross-sector partners. Building Healthier Communities 2030 serves as both a collective vision and a practical roadmap that will guide public health efforts across suburban Cook County through 2030.The plan aligns with President Preckwinkle's Policy Roadmap and reflects a shared commitment to advancing health equity through coordinated, community-informed action.
Trump escalates effort to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook
A commission that will report to the president will assess the mortgage fraud allegations against her and consider evidence from a hearing next month.
Trump establishes committee to investigate Federal Reserve's Lisa Cook
The inquiry will include a hearing at the White House on Nov. 5
Science of food
What happens when a science class is disguised as a cooking class? At South Fayette High School, it means 45 students quickly signed up for an innovative new course that satisfies their graduation requirements and fills their stomachs. South Fayette Township School District’s new Science of Food course is giving juniors and seniors a hands-on […]
Mayo Clinic Minute: Wash your hands for better health
Note: Oct. 15 is Global Handwashing Day As respiratory infections rise in the fall months, washing your hands with soap and water is more important than ever. Regular hand-washing stops germs from spreading and lowers your chances of getting sick. Always wash your hands after using the bathroom, before eating or cooking, and after coughing or sneezing. Washing your hands for […]
U.S. Senate race in Minnesota moves toward GOP in new Cook rating
The Cook Political Report shifted its rating of Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race between Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (D) and Republican Michele Tafoya, a former NFL broadcaster, toward Republicans.
Lincoln Science Focus students study rare saline wetlands with local agency partners
KHGI Nebraska TV is the ABC affiliate station for Central and South-western Nebraska, providing news, weather, sports and local event coverage to residents throughout the area including: Kearney, Grand Island, Hastings, North Platte, Lexington, Holdrege, McCook, York, Alda, Aurora and Broken Bow.
Inside the iPhone Duo and 18 Pro Cooling System: Apple Engineers Reveal a Simple Trick
In an exclusive interview with PCMag, Apple’s silicon and thermal teams explain the engineering that lets the A20 Pro chip run hotter and faster without cooking your phone.
Cook Political Report shifts 11 House seats away from GOP
Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election handicapper, shifted 11 more House seats toward Democrats this week, many in red states as the midterms inch closer. Cook has moved dozens of House sea…
Local Farms and Food Businesses Receive Nearly $500,000 in Grants to Help Make Metro Chicago Food System More Equitable - Cook County Department of Public Health
Today, Cook County Department of Public Health launched Building Healthier Communities 2030, suburban Cook County’s Community Health Improvement Plan. The plan was announced together with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Department of Public Health, community organizations, healthcare providers and cross-sector partners. Building Healthier Communities 2030 serves as both a collective vision and a practical roadmap that will guide public health efforts across suburban Cook County through 2030.The plan aligns with President Preckwinkle's Policy Roadmap and reflects a shared commitment to advancing health equity through coordinated, community-informed action.
Milwaukee-area bakeries serve Brewers-themed treats during World Series run
From baseball cookies to blue-and-yellow bread twists, businesses are getting creative to celebrate the Brewers.
Tim Cook on his first month after Apple CEO transition: ‘I’m not meddling’
Tim Cook visited Apple’s Battersea campus in London this week, mingling with King Charles as part of the company’s new...
Cook moves 18 more House races toward the left
Polling and the work of prognosticators like the Cook Political Report suggest Democrats are likely to take back the House in November.
Tim Cook says ‘I’m not meddling’ in the new Apple CEO’s business
Cook says he advised Ternus to “make it your own job.”
In response to Harris visit, Rebecca Cooke says she can campaign ‘on my own’
The former Vice President is stumping for Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Crowley on Oct. 26.
Rob Raede: Santa Barbara Forge Turns Metalworking Expertise into Sizzling Cookware Business
Our usual focus here at Team Let’s Go Eat is talking to the people who put food in the pan. This time, we decided to talk to the people who make the
Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Cook Political Report’s Amy Walter & a New ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos Poll, Sunday on “This Week” with Co-anchor Martha Raddatz
Energy Secretary Chris Wright & Cook Political Report’s Amy Walter will be on "This Week" airing on Sunday, October 18.
Stopping the Bills Rush Attack: Patriots Defense vs. James Cook
The Buffalo Bills seem to be a very run-heavy team now under Joe Brady, but can the Patriots slow their role on Sunday?
Opinion: How one-party politics and a complacent media fail Cook County
Cook County and lately Illinois are paying a high price for the one-party system that the monetization of politics propagates.
Cook Political Report shifts 4 governors’ races toward Democrats
Cook Political Report is shifting four gubernatorial races in Democrats’ favor, the nonpartisan election handicapper said Tuesday, all in states which currently have Republican governors. Amo…
Major independent political analyst moves Jared Moskowitz-Scott Singer congressional race to ‘lean Democratic’
“Democrats (are) in a decent position to hold this seat.” A major political handicapper, The Cook Political Report, moves South Florida’s 25th Congressional District contest to “lean Democratic.”
Iowa's 3 top congressional races move in Democrats' favor
Cook Political Report analysts see a tougher path for Iowa Republicans in November, moving two House races to leans Democratic and another to toss-up.
Disappointing weekend in Milwaukee
Home cookin could turn this series.
Ready, set, quit - School of Medicine and Public Health
Jessica Cook, PhD, pioneered motivation-phase treatment to help veterans not ready to quit smoking make their way towards cessation treatment.
Science Must Move Faster Than Social Media
I have bought produce, cooked it, sold it, specified it, promoted it, walked fields with growers, stood in packing houses, worked with distributors and watched chefs turn raw ingredients into something people want to eat.
Cook Political Report shifts 4 governors’ races toward Democrats
Cook Political Report is shifting four gubernatorial races in Democrats’ favor, the nonpartisan election handicapper said Tuesday, all in states which currently have Republican governors. Amo…
Trump establishes committee to investigate Federal Reserve's Lisa Cook in latest effort to fire her
President Donald Trump opened another chapter in his effort to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook Friday by establishing a “committee of inquiry” to investigate allegations that she made false statements in mortgage applications.
Three House races in Pa. — including in Bucks County — shift toward Democrats, Cook Political Report says
The contest between Democrat Bob Harvie and U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick has moved from "likely" to "lean" Republican, according to the nonpartisan election tracker.
USA TODAY Sports Plays of the Week: Vote for best Week 7 highlight
Landon Cook, Grant Van Raaphorst, Sara Barlett, and Mason Heinz headline USA TODAY Sports Plays of the Week. Vote now for the top highlight.
Allen rushes Bills to thrilling 37-34 win over Rams
Quarterback Josh Allen put on a rushing masterclass to power the Buffalo Bills to a thrilling 37-34 overtime victory against Los Angeles after the Rams had a game-winning field goal blocked Monday. Cook appeared to have lost the game with a fumble in the first possession of overtime, before Mevis's blocked field goal gave Buffalo a final chance which they did not squander. amz/pst
Opinion: How one-party politics and a complacent media fail Cook County
Cook County and lately Illinois are paying a high price for the one-party system that the monetization of politics propagates.
Byron Donalds brings 'Defending the Florida Dream' tour to Overtown cookout
The Republican nominee's tour lands in Miami a month before the General Election.
Cook and Holmquist, the newest inductees into Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame
Nebraska volleyball welcomes two new inductees into Husker Athletics Hall of Fame, previous head coach John Cook and former player Amber Holmquist. This pair has paved the way for Husker volleyball and women’s sports as a whole.
Lawyers for Fed’s Lisa Cook call White House hearing set up by Trump ‘biased’
Her lawyer said she would not be able to attend a hearing Nov. 5 because she will be attending policy meetings in Europe
Chip City closes all locations amid economic challenges
Chip City, a New York City-based gourmet cookie chain, has closed all 22 remaining locations nationwide due to tough consumer spending and evolving preferences.
Trump establishes committee to investigate Federal Reserve's Lisa Cook in latest effort to fire her
The inquiry will include a hearing at the White House Nov. 5, President Donald Trump said in a written memo, that Cook “shall” attend to answer questions from the committee.
Trump establishes committee to investigate Federal Reserve's Lisa Cook
The inquiry will include a hearing at the White House on Nov. 5
Lawyers for Fed’s Lisa Cook call White House hearing set up by Trump ‘biased’
Her lawyer said she would not be able to attend a hearing Nov. 5 because she will be attending policy meetings in Europe
Gas stoves put restaurant cooks’ health at risk, new study finds
In restaurant kitchens around the U.S., cooks are toiling away to create mouthwatering meals, from bibimbap to spaghetti puttanesca. But their own stomachs may be roiling.
Eighteen More House Race Ratings Move in Democrats’ Favor
In the final weeks of the election, Republicans have hoped that a massive ad campaign effort could dent Democratic candidates' images and shore up Republicans struggling to free themselves of the anchor of President Donald Trump.With less than four weeks to go, that heavy spending has yet to move the needle.
Cook Political Report moves 11 House races towards Democrats as Trump continues campaigning
The non-partisan Cook Political Report moves nearly a dozen races toward Democrats with less than three weeks before the election. NBC’s Monica Alba and Garrett Haake report on President Trump's campaign trip to Georgia and Cook Political Report’s Erin Covey joins to discuss the rating shifts.
Three Senate races shift toward Democrats in Cook ratings
The latest changes reflect growing worries for Republicans.
Trump to hold inquiry into Fed's Lisa Cook at White House
WASHINGTON, Oct 9 (Reuters) - US President Donald Trump will summon Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook to the White House for a hearing on his administration's allegations she made false
Cook review: You’re better off finding horror entertainment other than ‘Other Mommy’
A skilled cast is wasted on “Other Mommy,” a silly horror movie that stars Jessica Chastain in the story of a little girl haunted by an entity that looks like her mother. I expected bet…
Cook moves three red-state governor’s races toward Democrats
Cook Political Report changed Alaska's governor race rating from toss up to lean Democrat; and Nebraska, Vermont and Oklahoma governor's races from solid Republican to likely Republican.
Seattle and San Francisco: Big tech, political backlash and the AI boom
In a live joint recording of the GeekWire and Blue City Blues podcasts, GeekWire's John Cook, historian Margaret O'Mara and journalist Jonathan Weber join Blue City Blues hosts David Hyde and Sandeep Kaushik to discuss the tech industry's tensions with Seattle and San Francisco, and what the AI boom means for the future of both cities.
What Is Culinary Medicine? Bridging Nutrition, Cooking, and Health
Culinary medicine combines nutrition science with practical cooking education to help patients apply dietary advice and train healthcare professionals in nutrition counseling. Studies report improvements in cooking confidence and dietary behaviors, but evidence for sustained clinical benefits remains limited.
Tim Cook Says He's 'Not Meddling' With Apple's New CEO John Ternus
In his new role as the executive chairman of Apple's board of directors, Tim Cook told The Independent's David Phelan that he is "not meddling" with Apple's new CEO John Ternus. "First of all, John and I have an incredible level of trust in each other," said Cook. "The relationship must be based on trust, and the communication must be frequent and significant. But other than that, what I'm focused on right now is worldwide policy.
Cook Political Report Shifts 18 House Races Left, Including Four GOP-Held Seats from Toss Up to Lean D
The Cook Political Report shifted 18 House races to the left Friday — including four currently held by Republican incumbents.
Kansas GOP Sen. Roger Marshall pays off 6-year-old campaign cookie bill
Republican Sen. Roger Marshall settled his debts this weekend with a bakery in Kansas after a bill for hundreds of treats his campaign ordered for a 2020 event sat unpaid for six years.
In rural Wisconsin, politics is still about meeting voters. Online, it’s getting weird
Rebecca Cooke is taking her campaign directly to rural Wisconsin communities, all while an AI-fueled online fight w
Windows malware uses Grok AI to help stay hidden, researchers say
x47.c Windows malware uses xAI's Grok to maintain persistence on infected PCs while stealing passwords, browser cookies and API keys from victims.
Every Final Destination movie, ranked from worst to best
Six movies, countless gruesome deaths, and one unforgettable log truck. EW ranks the entire ‘Final Destination’ franchise from worst to best.
Cook Political Report tilts 18 House races toward Democrats
The political environment keeps deteriorating for Republicans.
County preserves to host activities at Ryan Woods
The Forest Preserves of Cook County will host the following events at the Dan Ryan Woods, 87th Street and South Western Avenue.
Science learning and more at Camp IslandWood
Lakeridge Elementary School fifth-graders recently visited Camp IslandWood on Bainbridge Island. They engaged in science learning and observations, experienced art and music connections, played many games and participated in “Soil to Snack” where they collaboratively cooked food with items from the IslandWood garden. They hiked the many trials down to Blakely Harbor and experienced the tidal zones and came together in “One Pride the Lion Way to build belonging between all 5th grade classrooms at Lakeridge,” reads a school district post. Photo courtesy of the Mercer Island School District
Gas stoves put restaurant cooks’ health at risk, new study finds
Dangerous amounts of heat and air pollution swirl in most commercial kitchens — even when the stoves are off. Switching to electric appliances helps…
Voters in 12 states face tight races for governor
The Cook Political Report has labeled four governor races as "lean Democrat" and three as "lean Republican."
Early voting expands Monday in Chicago, suburban Cook County and across the suburbs
Photo identification is not required but it can be helpful if there is a question about voter registration, address or signature.
AZ-ALBERTSONS
Returning for her third year, actress, director and mom Haylie Duff will host a special cooking demo from 1:15 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Ubisoft plans cuts at German studios, adding to wave of workforce reductions
Ubisoft is planning to reduce its workforce in Germany, where it operates a trio of studios, by about 100 workers, Game File has learned. The company wants to offer employees buyouts to, should enough people accept, avoid having to lay anyone off. “In Germany, we initiated discussions with the Works Council last week regarding a proposed voluntary departure plan across Ubisoft Dusseldorf, Ubisoft Berlin & Ubisoft Mainz,” a company rep told Game File. A “works council” is a union-like group representing employees. “The voluntary plan is the primary measure being proposed to support the intended organizational changes,” the Ubisoft rep added. The company declined to confirm the scale of the potential headcount cut. Of the impacted studios, Mainz might be the best known to the public. It leads development of the Anno series and shipped the well-reviewed strategy game Anno 117: Pax Romana in November 2025. Berlin and Dusseldorf operate as support studios within Ubisoft’s creative network. Berlin recently supported the development of Rainbow Six Siege and the Rayman Legends Retold remake. Dusseldorf also contributed to those projects, as well as The Settlers and Ubisoft-branded escape rooms. Dusseldorf is the biggest of the three studios, with some 400+ workers, compared to just over 100 at the other two, a source familiar with the reductions and the teams told Game File. More than half of these new reductions of about 100 people are expected to happen at Dusseldorf. The planned cuts were announced at a town hall for the German studios on Tuesday of last week. In an email follow-up, the studio group’s managing director, Benedikt Grindel, said the cuts were intended to “best position our German studios for the future... with a clearer focus on their role, capabilities and organizational setup needed for the work ahead.” The email was an echo of the past. In January 2025, Grindel had emailed the Ubisoft developers in his region (or studio “zone”) to explain that a round of 185 cuts at the time, including about 65 at Dusseldorf, were “essential to improve our operational efficiency and ensure the long-term sustainability of our studios, the zone and the company.” A half-decade of continued job cuts Ubisoft has been aggressively cutting its headcount for years. At the end of September 2022, it had 20,729 workers. By the end of March 2026, that total was down to 16,590. Studio management is trying to trim costs as it grapples with a changing industry and a drought of releases, let alone hits. The company announced earlier this year that it had reduced its costs since 2022 by “nearly €325 million” ($362m) and planned to lower them through 2028 by another €180 million ($200m). In June the company said it was closing down its Winnipeg and Belgrade studios and cutting roles in its Barcelona team. Even commercial and creative success hasn’t spared studios from this ongoing company-wide contraction. As Game File was nailing down details around the proposed cuts in Germany, Ubisoft management was informing workers of cuts in its Singapore studio, which shipped a hit remake of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag this past July. Some 70 positions in Singapore are being eliminated “to align the studio with upcoming production needs,” per a company rep’s statement to Game File. In early 2024, a large team in the Singapore studio launched the multiplayer pirate game Skull & Bones. It performed poorly but has been supported with regular content updates since. Many of Ubisoft’s studios around the world are heavily subsidized via regional grants and tax breaks. Singapore had been among them for years, but received no such local assistance in the 12 months ending this past March. News of the Singapore cuts broke today alongside word that Ubisoft is also proposing the closure of RedLynx, pending negotiations with officials. The Finnish studio behind the motorbike series Trials was founded in 2000 and sold to Ubisoft in 2011. As reported by VGC (and corroborated by Game File), Ubisoft management told employees it could not come up with a new, sustainable assignment for RedLynx. The 2025 workforce at Ubisoft Dusseldorf were straight-up cuts. This time, Ubisoft is hoping the reductions at its trio of German studios will largely come from workers taking a payout to leave. The company offered such voluntary dismissals at its Massive Entertainment studio (The Division) a year ago. For the German studios’ buyouts this time around, Ubisoft and the Works Council had discussed a formula that’d pay a worker’s monthly salary multiplied by 1.5 and by the number of years they’ve worked at the company, according to Game File sources. The formula is still subject to negotiations with the Works Council and has not yet been part of an official offer to workers. It could be adjusted up or down, and it could be supplemented with additional bonuses. Asked about the floated payout formula, a Ubisoft rep told Game File, “The terms of a potential voluntary departure program remain subject to negotiation with employee representatives. No final agreement has been reached, and we won’t comment on specific proposals while discussions are ongoing.” Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: Epic’s AI adventures Epic Games (Fortnite, the Unreal engine) is all-in on using AI to try to transform the way it makes video games and game-making tools. It’s leaders appear to be undeterred by any resistance among gamers and some game developers around generative AI—and instead emboldened by advances, particularly in AI-assisted programming. A recap of the last three days: On Monday, Bloomberg reported that Epic management told workers last week that development of an upcoming game combining Star Wars and Marvel characters would be “AI first.” Employees would be expected to use AI models such as Claude to code the game. A manager told Epic’s developers there would be “[n]o more hand-written code” and that art for the game would be “generated with full AI workflows,” per the outlet. Just ahead of that story running, Epic founder Tim Sweeney tweeted: “We have a huge pivot underway here at Epic, moving developers around to retool for maximum AI acceleration. The aim isn’t to do the same stuff with fewer people, but to enable everyone here to build MORE and BETTER stuff, and to bring the benefits to all teams using Unreal.” In a follow-up, Sweeney predicted that most game development processes would be at least three times faster a year from now than they were in January 2026, thanks to AI. To a person on X who told him he was failing to read the room, Sweeney said: “Much of the room wants it to be 2016 again, but it’s not. Our job, as the provider of tools and technology to much of the industry, is to design for the present that is and the future that will soon be.” On Wednesday, Epic announced it was releasing a faster launcher for its Epic Games Store marketplace. It did so by stating in a blog post as clear as could be that the launcher is an AI-enabled, vibe-coded project: Programming is hard. So, instead of doing that, we vibe coded a new Epic Games Launcher that’s way faster and more responsive than the current one, and has a new look. Programming is hard? That was unexpected phrasing from a company founded by a legendarily great programmer. Back in 2011, Sweeney told me that he’d picked up programming quickly as a kid and rejoiced at the power it gave him. “I could look at any program that anybody else had written and, with enough effort, build something cooler.” Item 3: The Xbox Labs experiment (and one of the people behind it) Microsoft’s Xbox division, which is flooding the zone with announcements lately, yesterday revealed a new internal tech-tinkering team called Xbox Labs. In the words of Xbox boss Asha Sharma Labs is “a small group of game makers, engineers and scientists whose job is to turn emerging ideas into things our players and developers can experience.” Conventional wisdom coming out of the announcement is that Labs is a team that’ll focus on ideas driven by generative AI. In her announcement, Sharma cited some of the dizzying achievements in tech and gaming over the past month as AI agents and other AI tools have been deployed to swiftly figure out how popular games work, then rebuild them and mix them up. She mentioned seeing ”games rapidly decompiled and rebuilt to run on hardware they were never originally designed to support” and said “[p]erhaps more surprisingly, we’ve seen many of the biggest games in the world have been remixed into the source code of another.” (Minecraft plus Elden Ring, for example, or Fortnite + Super Monkey Ball + Overwatch + Diablo + others.) Sharma also cited the work of Windows PC games being ported to run in browsers, a seeming reference to a recent AI-assisted fan port of Halo. Or perhaps Call of Duty or GTA. Sharma didn’t use the specific term “AI” in her memo, but she came close, citing AI “agents” and their potential for game-making tools that Labs could help craft: I think XBOX has an important role to play here. Coding became the first major workload for agents because they can write, run, and test software. Games share many of those same properties, and people spend more than 72 billion hours a year playing XBOX games, roughly five times the estimated time spent writing code worldwide. We’ve spent 25 years learning how to make great games, and I want our game makers to help shape what these new technologies make possible. As we learn, we’ll share the tools we build with developers across the industry, just as we always have. When I asked an Xbox rep if Labs was an AI-centric team, they said genAI was not the focus, describing it as having a broader mandate for using new tech in new ways in gaming. As an example, they pointed to Xbox’s recently launched disc-to-digital gaming usage rights program. Microsoft didn’t specifically name anyone involved full-time in Xbox Labs yesterday, but on social media and LinkedIn, I spotted Adrian Mato IDing himself as leading the creatio of tools at Labs and talking up the launch. Mato first caught my attention in late September, when he said on X that he was “starting to build a new team at Xbox focused on products and tools for how games get built and distributed as agentic tools become more capable.” At the time, he framed AI-based tools as a supplement to traditional game dev tools. “I don’t think we need to replace them,” he said. Since then, he’s publicly shown interest in AI and in games. He’s recently spent some of his X feed marveling at the power of AI agents and praising the lighting in the latest Gears of War. Following the Labs announcement yesterday, he enthused about the Xbox Labs’ stylish landing page. He wrote: “We built some fun tools to art-direct shaders in real time, experimented with interactive ASCII art, and sprinkled in lots of tiny details. “Move your mouse to leave a colorful trail that reveals the original footage, or interact with the video to trigger bursts of particles. “A lot of love went into making it all feel just right. “More to come”
John Ternus writes post celebrating Steve Jobs on anniversary of passing
Apple CEO John Ternus and former CEO Tim Cook have shared posts in remembrance of Steve Jobs today on the 15th anniversary of his passing.
NJ Health Commissioner Dr. Raynard Washington Leads Cooking Class at Harvest
New Jersey Health Commissioner Dr. Raynard E. Washington joined RWJBarnabas Health at Harvest: A Farm to Community Center where we joined a wonderful group of seniors for an interactive cooking class. Commissioner Washington and registered dietitian Alyssa chopped and mixed Rainbow Grain Bowls using colorful, nutritious, local Jersey-grown ingredients.
Local Business Spotlight: Johnson's Foods
From customer appreciation cookouts and shopping-spree giveaways to monthly donations to the local food shelf, owners Jacob Muus and Crystal Clemons have made community involvement central to running Johnson’s Foods. For Muus and Clemons, giving back is a way to support the community they call home. Since taking over Johnson’s Foods four years ago, the...
Cook Political Report upgrades David Jolly's November chances
'We can't rule out the possibility of an upset.'
A St. Louis plant scientist discovers a trail first blazed by his grandma’s cooking
Antonio Brazelton used to think of himself as a trailblazer in the plant science field, following in the footsteps of George Washington Carver. But years ago, the St. Louisan realized he was overlooking his own lineage of Black plant scientists.
Cook Political Report shifts two Senate races toward Democrats, one toward GOP
The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election handicapper, on Tuesday moved Minnesota’s Senate race from likely to lean Democrat, while also moving South Carolina’s Senate seat from…
Hot Ticket: BBQ, brews and big country hits highlight the weekend
Village Fair: Country music, barbecue and 70 years of tradition come together this weekend as the League City Music Festival & BBQ Cookoff, also known as the annual Village Fair,
A Senator Facing Re-Election Settles a Bakery Bill, 6 Years Later
Senator Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican in a difficult race, paid an old campaign debt for cookies, muffins and brownies after a baker’s story went viral online.
New prediction for Cincinnati Democrat Greg Landsman ahead of race
Cincinnati Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman may have an easier path to reelection, according to a new race leaning from the Cook Political Report.
Little River Chamber to host 3 Ashdown business openings
The Little River Chamber of Commerce will host ribbon-cutting ceremonies for three new Ashdown businesses: Modest & Beautiful Boutique, The Millhouse - Southern Cajun Cooking, and Respawn Digital.